In 1981 the Socialist Party leader, François Mitterrand, was elected President of France and the Left won the legislative election. However, in 1986, the right regained a parliamentary majority. President Mitterrand was forced to "cohabit" with a conservative cabinet led by the RPR leader Jacques Chirac. Chirac took responsibility for domestic policy while the President focused on his "reserved domain" – foreign affairs and defense policy. Moreover, several other prominent candidates opposed the two heads of the executive.
Chirac's cabinet advocated liberal-conservative policies, in abolishing the solidarity tax on wealth and selling some public companies. It was faced with opposition from social movements, supported by President Mitterrand.
Meanwhile, the leadership of Chirac over the right was challenged by the former UDF Prime Minister Raymond Barre. Barre gained some popularity by condemning the principle of the "cohabitation", claiming that it is incompatible with the "spirit of the Fifth Republic". He appeared as an alternative to the executive duo. In January 1988, when he announced his candidacy, Chirac was credited with 19.5% in the first round by SOFRES polls institute, against 23% for Barre. But, from the start of February, Chirac benefited from the internal divisions in the UDF, and took the lead among the right-wing candidates.
On the left, the identity of the Socialist candidate was uncertain. Mitterrand said he was not sure he would run, and meanwhile, his internal rival Michel Rocard campaigned for the nomination. The favourite to win the election according to the polls, the incumbent president announced his candidacy at the end of March. He wrote an open letter to the French, where he proposed a moderate programme ("neither nationalisations, nor privatizations") and advocated a "united France" against "the appropriation of the state by a clan", targeting Chirac and the RPR.
He benefited from the decline of the French Communist Party, represented by André Lajoinie. Lajoinie was faced with competition for the far-left vote by a "reforming Communist", Pierre Juquin and a Trotskyist, Arlette Laguiller. Meanwhile, the Ecologist Antoine Waechter refused to ally the Greens with either the left or the right. On the far-right, the National Front leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen, tried to confirm the FN's good result in the previous legislative election.
The French economy shrugging off the early 1980s recession with 4% growth that year put the economy off the minds of voters as well as popular social programs being implemented, both of which gave Mitterrand the economic argument to achieve a second term despite the fallback in the last legislative election that caused cohabitation.
The second round consisted of a competition between the two heads of the executive power, but the first was marked by the unexpectedly high vote for the National Front, and a poor result for the Communist Party. Barre endorsed Chirac.
The TV debate between the two finalists, and protagonists of the "cohabitation", was very tense. Mitterrand wanted to show his ascendancy in naming his challenger "Mr Prime Minister". Chirac answered: "Here, you are not President, and I am not Prime Minister. We are two equal candidates. You will allow that I call you Mr Mitterrand". Mitterrand replied: "You are absolutely right, Mr Prime Minister". Besides, the two candidates clashed about their attitude to the September 1986 terrorist attacks.
François Mitterrand was re-elected President of France. Jacques Chirac resigned from the head of the cabinet. Michel Rocard succeeded him, then the Socialist Party obtained a relative parliamentary majority, President Mitterrand having dissolved the National Assembly. Chirac became president after winning the 1995 elections.
Dow, Jay K. "Voter choice in the 1995 French presidential election." Political Behavior 21.4 (1999): 305–324.
Frears, John. "The 1988 French Presidential Election." Government and Opposition 23.3 (1988): 276–289.
Goldey, David B., and Richard W. Johnson. "The French presidential election of 24 April–8 May and the general election of 5–12 June 1988." Electoral Studies 7.3 (1988): 195–223.
External linksEdit
[1] Radio-TV debate Jacques Chirac/François Mitterrand
[2] Announcement of the result of the second round, on TV
October 21, 2023
1988, french, presidential, election, presidential, elections, were, held, france, april, 1988, 1981, april, 1988, first, round, 1988, second, round, 1995, turnout81, first, round, second, round, candidate, françois, mitterrand, jacques, chiracparty, rprpopula. Presidential elections were held in France on 24 April and 8 May 1988 1988 French presidential election 1981 24 April 1988 first round 8 May 1988 second round 1995 Turnout81 38 first round 84 06 second round Candidate Francois Mitterrand Jacques ChiracParty PS RPRPopular vote 16 704 279 14 218 970Percentage 54 02 45 98 First round results by department and regionSecond round results by department and regionPresident before electionFrancois MitterrandPS Elected President Francois MitterrandPSIn 1981 the Socialist Party leader Francois Mitterrand was elected President of France and the Left won the legislative election However in 1986 the right regained a parliamentary majority President Mitterrand was forced to cohabit with a conservative cabinet led by the RPR leader Jacques Chirac Chirac took responsibility for domestic policy while the President focused on his reserved domain foreign affairs and defense policy Moreover several other prominent candidates opposed the two heads of the executive Chirac s cabinet advocated liberal conservative policies in abolishing the solidarity tax on wealth and selling some public companies It was faced with opposition from social movements supported by President Mitterrand Meanwhile the leadership of Chirac over the right was challenged by the former UDF Prime Minister Raymond Barre Barre gained some popularity by condemning the principle of the cohabitation claiming that it is incompatible with the spirit of the Fifth Republic He appeared as an alternative to the executive duo In January 1988 when he announced his candidacy Chirac was credited with 19 5 in the first round by SOFRES polls institute against 23 for Barre But from the start of February Chirac benefited from the internal divisions in the UDF and took the lead among the right wing candidates On the left the identity of the Socialist candidate was uncertain Mitterrand said he was not sure he would run and meanwhile his internal rival Michel Rocard campaigned for the nomination The favourite to win the election according to the polls the incumbent president announced his candidacy at the end of March He wrote an open letter to the French where he proposed a moderate programme neither nationalisations nor privatizations and advocated a united France against the appropriation of the state by a clan targeting Chirac and the RPR He benefited from the decline of the French Communist Party represented by Andre Lajoinie Lajoinie was faced with competition for the far left vote by a reforming Communist Pierre Juquin and a Trotskyist Arlette Laguiller Meanwhile the Ecologist Antoine Waechter refused to ally the Greens with either the left or the right On the far right the National Front leader Jean Marie Le Pen tried to confirm the FN s good result in the previous legislative election The French economy shrugging off the early 1980s recession with 4 growth that year put the economy off the minds of voters as well as popular social programs being implemented both of which gave Mitterrand the economic argument to achieve a second term despite the fallback in the last legislative election that caused cohabitation Contents 1 Results 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksResults EditThe second round consisted of a competition between the two heads of the executive power but the first was marked by the unexpectedly high vote for the National Front and a poor result for the Communist Party Barre endorsed Chirac The TV debate between the two finalists and protagonists of the cohabitation was very tense Mitterrand wanted to show his ascendancy in naming his challenger Mr Prime Minister Chirac answered Here you are not President and I am not Prime Minister We are two equal candidates You will allow that I call you Mr Mitterrand Mitterrand replied You are absolutely right Mr Prime Minister Besides the two candidates clashed about their attitude to the September 1986 terrorist attacks Francois Mitterrand was re elected President of France Jacques Chirac resigned from the head of the cabinet Michel Rocard succeeded him then the Socialist Party obtained a relative parliamentary majority President Mitterrand having dissolved the National Assembly Chirac became president after winning the 1995 elections CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond roundVotes Votes Francois MitterrandSocialist Party10 367 22034 1016 704 27954 02Jacques ChiracRally for the Republic6 063 51419 9414 218 97045 98Raymond BarreUnion for French Democracy5 031 84916 55Jean Marie Le PenNational Front4 375 89414 39Andre LajoinieFrench Communist Party2 055 9956 76Antoine WaechterThe Greens1 149 6423 78Pierre JuquinIndependent communist639 0842 10Arlette LaguillerWorkers Struggle606 0171 99Pierre BousselMovement for a Workers Party116 8230 38Total30 406 038100 0030 923 249100 00Valid votes30 406 03898 0030 923 24996 38Invalid blank votes621 9342 001 161 8223 62Total votes31 027 972100 0032 085 071100 00Registered voters turnout38 128 50781 3838 168 86984 06Source Constitutional CourtSee also EditPresident of France Politics of FranceReferences EditFurther reading EditDow Jay K Voter choice in the 1995 French presidential election Political Behavior 21 4 1999 305 324 Frears John The 1988 French Presidential Election Government and Opposition 23 3 1988 276 289 Goldey David B and Richard W Johnson The French presidential election of 24 April 8 May and the general election of 5 12 June 1988 Electoral Studies 7 3 1988 195 223 External links Edit 1 Radio TV debate Jacques Chirac Francois Mitterrand 2 Announcement of the result of the second round on TV Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1988 French presidential election amp oldid 1168969683, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
